A/N: Yay! The update is finally done! I'm so happy! And I'm also happy that you all seem to be enjoying it, I hope this one doesn't disappoint. A lot goes down in the chapter and I really wanna know what you all think, whether it good or bad. Thanks so much for your feedback and follows, it means so much that you all take an intrest. If any of you have any question, feel free to message me, I'd love to converse with others :)
So as always,
With Love -Ophelia
Chapter 14
More than Kin
"A little more than kin, and less than kind."
Bruce walked the aging hallway of a building he didn't often enter, as he had little to do with this share of Wayne Enterprises. However, today, he needed a favor. He stepped into the elevator and pressed the button for the very top floor, many things keeping his mind veering as he ascended. He peered down at his phone, a story about how one of Joker's men had been found dead by the steel yard—struck by a car—was lit up on the screen. The story went on to mention two local gang members were also found dead at the scene, but would not release their identities.
"Joker, what have you done now?" Bruce groaned.
He heard the elevator door slide open and looked up to find a tall brunette standing at its mouth, her once pretty face showing its age from years of chain smoking.
"Aw, Bruce," she said stepping into the elevator, "I wasn't expecting you."
"Well, I was in the area, Adeline. I thought I'd come and say—"
"Don't feed me that cordial bullshit, Bruce," Adeline droned the moment the door closed, "what do you really want?"
Bruce knit his brow a moment in discord, but quickly pulled himself back together. She was always the coarse one, shockingly. "There's a property of Wayne Enterprises that I want to demo and convert into a children's center for at risk youth… and I need your vote to make it happen."
"What property are you referring to?" the brunette replied, eyes straight forward.
"The old opera house in the East End."
Her lips parted as she looked in his direction. "The one your parents were—"
"Yes…" Bruce nodded ruefully, cutting her off before he could relive that moment.
"That's what I thought." The door opened and the brunette stepped out followed by Bruce. "I can see why the board is not willing to support you on this—where's Lucius stand?"
"He's for it," Bruce replied as they approached her office, "he understands the need for a center in that part of the city. It's an investment in the future of Gotham."
Adeline unlocked the door to her office and turned back to Bruce. "Yes, let's care for and nurture the future generations of gangsters and thugs—hell—why don't we just arm them too?"
She entered the cold office as Bruce reluctantly followed.
"That's not very fair of you, Adeline" he said sternly. "These kids need something like this—something to keep them off the streets, keep them from being recruited in the first place."
Adeline opened a box and pulled out a cigarette, popping it in her mouth. "Mind if I smoke?" She began to lift her lighter, the wee flame flickering in her hand.
"And if I say yes?"
She looked back at the billionaire and took the cigarette from her lips, tossing the lighter on the desk with a little theatrics. She was more than annoyed.
"Bruce, darling. If we open a youth center in one of the worst parts of town then the drug dealers, pimps, and gang recruiters will be right at our doorstep. It would practically be chumming the waters." She flicked her cigarette in her fingers, and approached the playboy. "Listen, I know you want to make this city a better place, despite the bullshit front you wear."
Bruce shook his head and walked to the window. "I forget how forthright you could be, Addy."
She laughed a bit and sat down on her desk. "And I forget how much of a bleeding heart you actually are. Where's the rest of the board fall on this?"
"They'll support it if we put it in Gotham Heights."
Her brow raised with no surprise, only amusement. "Yeah cause over-privileged brats need a break from their tart nannies, right? Gotta love old white money." She watched as Bruce let out an amused laugh at her colorful language. "Listen, if it means that much to you, Bruce. I'll vote for it, and I'll convince a few board members who owe me a favor to do so as well. But I'll need a favor too."
"And what would that be?"
Adeline got up and approached Bruce at the window. "The clinic I'm trying to start in Jump City, the board's been trying to shut it down—something about budget cuts. Apparently free medical aid isn't exactly profitable."
"Gotta love old white money."
"We're the worst," she smiled crassly. "Point is, if I don't get enough members to back this project then the board will kill it. I've put a lot of time and money into this, Bruce, I need this. Just like you need closure."
"This isn't about closure, Addy. It's abo—"
"That's biggest crock of shit to come out of your mouth since your parents died, Bruce." Adeline spat, cutting him off. "You wanna turn that bad memory into something good so that you can forget what happened."
"I'll never forget what happened to them, Addy." Bruce reassured, his face wearing a bit of insult.
"I know you won't, but that doesn't mean you won't try, dear." Adeline stepped back to her desk and picked up her cigarette. "So do we have a deal?"
"We do," Bruce replied. He walked past her desk, noticing a picture of a blonde boy with golden curls and big green eyes. "How's Joey? I haven't seen him in years."
"That's because you don't keep family close, Bruce."
Bruce began to defend himself, but couldn't really find an argument to stand on when it came to his blood relatives. "I've noticed you don't have any pictures of Grant. Is that you trying to forget?"
Adeline finally lit her cigarette and took a long drag then spoke on tail of her smoke. "Yes, but like you said… I'll never forget."
8888
Raven and Dick both sat in the small apartment on the second floor of the Wolf's Head. The room in total was only about 300 square feet, give or take. The space looked a bit more than lived in, as it was clear many people had spent a night or two there, maybe more?
"It could be worse," Dick mused, pulling his shirt over the bulletproof vest he'd been given and looked over at Raven who seemed a little underwhelmed.
She looked over at him, not even cracking a smile. "I just found a dead mouse under the sink, and it smells like somebody's jock in here."
Dick got up and took a candid look for himself and found the small rodent nearly beheaded by the trap that had snapped its tiny neck.
"That's unpleasant," he noted, "but at least there's no cockroaches."
"That's because they have higher standards."
The door suddenly swung open to reveal Duela, who didn't seem plagued by the thought of privacy.
"Hey," the pale red-head said causally, "you guys comfortable?" She herself, seemed a little uneasy, as though she were unsure of how to approach them.
"We're fine, Duela?" Dick said before Raven could utter a word, uncertain whether he was pronouncing the girl's name correctly.
She smiled and nodded. "Yep, Duala Dent—no relation to Harvey."
Dick smiled and laughed lightly. "So you only have one face?"
"Yeah," Duela smiled boldly, "but I do have on hell of a bad side." The girl giggled a little oddly at the joke, Dick uncomfortably laughing along with her.
Raven, however, just rolled her eyes as she looked down again at the severed mouse. "If only I could trade places."
"What's that?" Duela asked looking over at Raven.
Raven glanced up from the expired rodent and over at the painted red-head. "Oh, I was just talking to the dead mouse, poor little bastard."
A crude look of confusion took over the girl's features, Dick looking back at Raven with a "really" expression.
"Um… JT wants you two downstairs, he's gonna go over the details of the run."
"Okay, we'll be right down," Dick replied pleasantly.
Duela nodded with a subtle awkwardness, and began to turn away, but stopped. "Um… can I ask you a question?"
"Sure."
"Are you two really serious about being here?" Her voice was soft, but filled with validity, a protective nature just under the surface.
"Yeah," Dick replied, less than convincingly, "…why?"
"Well… if I'm supposed to trust you, than I have to believe that you have the team's best interest at heart."
"Do you trust us?" Dick asked ruefully.
"No," Duela replied, Dick's eyes falling from hers to the floor.
"That's fair," he muttered, knowing that in hindsight, he couldn't really ask her, or any of the Outlaws, to trust him. "Trust is something that has to be earned."
She nodded again, this time with more conviction.
"I promise you, I'm gonna earn that trust."
"I believe you," Duela said softly, and smiled, "that you'll try."
She turned and walked out the door, leaving Raven and Dick to themselves. Dick turned to Raven, whose eyes were still cast downward, her fingers taping the sink as she moved toward him.
"Can I ask you something, Grayson?" she said coldly.
"You're gonna ask anyway," Dick replied, feeling the ominous weight of her words before they could even take breath.
"Do you really think you can sell these people the concept that you care?" She glanced up at him with her dark eyes, her thick lashes pressed against her brow.
"I do care, Rae," the hero insisted, but doubt clung to his gaze.
Raven cupped her hand around the bed post and turned her body to him. "I know you do, because you care about people and their well-being, but you also care about what you think is right, you care about your moral code."
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying that if we are gonna fit in around here, we're gonna have to act like we belong. We're gonna have to act as if right doesn't matter… Can you do that?"
Dick's eyes fell from her, and he leaned back against the foot board. "Can you?"
"I don't know?" Raven let out a deep breath and walked back to the bathroom again.
Dick sauntered behind her, unsure of where he stood on everything. "What's your take on all this, and be honest."
Raven glanced back at him from over her shoulder, her face looking a bit misplaced. "Honestly, I really don't know. What I do know is that some days you're the trap, and other days, you're the mouse," Raven replied, picking up the trap, the mouse still dangling from it. Dick watched as she passed it to him, her face plagued with disgust and a little sympathy. "If I were you, I'd be the trap."
She handed him the bloody contraption and Dick reluctantly accepted it as he grimaced, "What am I supposed to do with this?"
Raven let out a throaty laugh and shook her head. "What else do you do with a dead mouse—flush it."
He sat there for a moment, awkwardly holding the trap like it were the bubonic plague. He finally pushed himself toward the toilet and with revulsion, pulled back the wire to release the gored creature. It hit the water with a pitiful splash and lifelessly floated for a moment, ripples echoing from its lifeless mass, the world ignorant to its passing.
Dick place his fingers on the handle, getting ready to send the expired rodent to its watery burial. "Let's just hope I don't end up like the mouse."
8888
Once the two got downstairs, Jason gave a brief description about the run, and what it would entail. It was a simple protection run, its starting point being Gotham, and would end in Blüdhaven. The cargo they'd be protecting would be that of cocaine, which had been melted down and somehow sprayed on cabinet doors, as though it were a coat of polyurethane. Dick looked over at Raven with surprise, a little impressed at just how clever Slade was, the realization a bit chilling. Normally with the cargo so ingeniously hidden, Slade wouldn't even bother with protection, but given the recent gang activity in both Gotham and Blüdhaven, he didn't feel like taking the chance.
Dick also learned who he'd be going on the run with aside from X and Jason. He'd also be joined by Duela and Mutt. The collection run would be made by Hogan, Enigma and Schizo, who would be meeting someone known as Wintergreen in an old pub near the East End. Apparently, Jinx would be sitting this one out, as someone had to hold down the fort in case anything were to go down. Eddie would also be joining her.
Red Hood finally dismissed everyone and ordered those on their mission to follow him. However, before they left, he pulled Jinx aside to have a word with her.
"Hey, I need you to do me a favor," Jason said and glanced over at Raven.
"Does this favor have anything to do with a little black bird that might have flown our way?" Jinx asked, noticing Jason's eye line.
"So you already know?"
"How can I not? I can practically smell the brimstone on her," Jinx grimaced, "What'd you want me to do?"
"I know her loyalty lies with Grayson, but I want you to see just how deep that loyalty lies."
Jinx glanced over at Raven then back at Jason, a shrewd look on her face. "You want me to see if we can trust her?"
"Yeah."
"Okay, but what about Grayson? Don't you trust him?"
"Not quite, but that's my problem."
"And she's mine."
"Good, keep it that way," Jason nodded. "You teach her how to play in this sandbox."
As this exchange was taking place, Dick noticed Jinx glance over at Raven and Jason began to move toward them.
"Why's she looking at you like that?"
Raven peered over in Jinx's direction, distaste clear in her eyes. "Because she knows I'm lying to her."
"What did you lie about?" Dick asked in a low voice.
"Who I am?"
"Does she know?"
"I can't tell," Raven replied, keeping her tone even as Jinx approached, alongside Jason.
"You ready to do this, Grayson?" the Outlaw addressed, leaving the ex-Titan feeling a little displaced.
"Yeah," Dick replied in a vaguely brittle tone, his confidence shaken. "You gonna be good here, Rae?"
"She'll be fine," Jason reassured before Raven could speak for herself, "Jinx said she'd show her the ropes."
"The ropes of what? Making poor life choices?" Raven scoffed with little care.
"Ha," Jinx giggled causally, "you'd be surprised what you can learn from a girl like me, Rae"
Jinx crossed her arms and smiled back at Raven as the two stood across from each other in a silent standoff. Both Dick and Jason looking on at them for a minute, waiting to see who might strike first.
"Maybe I should stay here and sit this one out—" Dick began, but was cut off.
"No, I'm good here, Dick. You go. I'm gonna learn to tie ropes."
Dick looked back at her for a moment, unmoved. Her stance stiff and rigid as her back stood high like an impregnable wall. In the back of his mind, he knew she'd be fine, that no one could move or topple her. But he could tell the same of Jinx, that they both had something that was worth protecting, and they wouldn't fall to anyone.
"You heard your girl, Dick," Jason shrugged, ignoring the scene before him, "let's go. We gotta get this shit done. And Jinx, play nice."
Jinx didn't even bother to look at her leader, she just kept her eyes fixed on the young sorceress. "I always do, JT."
Jason motioned for Dick to follow him which he reluctantly did, looking back like a lost child as he went.
The two women still stood across from each other, staring the other down as though squaring off for territory. Until, finally, Raven spoke.
"So I guess those ropes won't tie themselves?"
"Oh honey, you got a lot to learn," Jinx replied tiredly. "Take a seat, Raven."
8888
It wasn't a far ride to make the trip over to the meet Wintergreen and his men in the less lavish part of town. Hogan entered the bar with Enigma and Schizo, giving the bartender a nod as he made his way to a table in the far back corner. Schizo sat down at the bar to keep an eye on the door, Enigma followed the older gentleman to the far back table where they both sat across from the grey-haired man.
The man looked up from his fine Bourbon, placing the glass down and greet the two Outlaws. "Aw, Hogan my good man!" Wintergreen said reaching his hand out across the table.
"Wintergreen," Hogan replied accepting the hand shake, "you're just as ugly as I remember," he laughed.
"Not as ugly as you!" the Brit added as Hogan took a seat. "And who is this lovely young lady?"
Enigma smiled uncomfortably as she also took her place next to Hogan. "Enigma," she mumbled, reaching out her hand.
"The pleasure is mine, my dear," he sang in is rich accent. He took a drag off his cigar, savoring the husky smoke before exhaling. "Well I suppose we should get down to business," Wintergreen added as the smoke finally left his lips. He picked up a black bag and placed it on the table. "It's all here, you can count it if you want."
Hogan smiled as the bartender delivered his scotch. "I trust you, but I know the Hood would prefer it be counted."
"Of course," the Brit nodded.
Hogan motioned for Enigma to take the bag and count the money. She got up and reached for aged leather duffle, taking it in her gloved hand. But before she could pull the bag away, she felt a large hand wrap around her thin wrist. She looked up with a cold gleam in her eye to see a coy smile on the Brit's face. He pulled her forward as though trying to get a closer look, causing Hogan to begin to lurch forward. Wintergreen held up his hand, insuring he meant no harm, hardly taking his eyes off girl.
"You have very lovely eyes, my dear. What color would you say they are?"
The copper red-head let a crass smile grow sarcastically over her face. "Green."
She pulled her wrist free, taking the bag with her and headed to the bathroom, leaving the two men to their liquor and cigars.
"Well that little fit's a looker," Wintergreen said taking another puff off his cigar.
Hogan took a quick swig of his scotch and replied, "I wouldn't fall too hard if I were you,
"What, she's not into older men?"
"No," Hogan shrugged, "she's into girls."
Meanwhile as the two men discussed the young woman's romantic preferences and descended into tall tales of lost loves and ex-wives, Enigma entered the ladies room. Upon her entrance, she noticed a young blonde, vainly fixing her makeup in the mirror. The blonde looked over, taking her eyes off her glossed lips to notice the odd girl glaring at her.
"Get out," the mysterious girl said, making the blonde look at her crudely.
"Um…. you don't like… own the bathroom?" the blonds hissed with a pink pout.
Enigma placed the bag down and approached the girl, her stare never leaving the cute blonde. "Like neither do you. Now get like the fuck out."
The blonde put her lip gloss back in her purse with a huff and pushed passed Enigma, slamming her hand against the door with some serious attitude.
"Bitch," the blonde spat stepping out.
"Yeah go blow some frat boy," Enigma drawled with an eye roll and locked the door before the blonde could push it open.
Still, she could hear the girl yell through the door, calling her colorfully rude names as Enigma checked each stall to ensure they were empty. She picked up the bag and placed it on the counter and began counting the money, her new friend still carrying on outside the door for several mintues. Until she heard her scream bloody murder.
"What the fuck?" She squealed, hearing a series of loud gunshots come from the bar.
8888
They'd arrived at the location of the shipment, a formidable 18-wheeler waiting patiently at the edge of town. They pulled up in a Ford Expedition, following Jason and the thundering sound of his Harley. Looking on, a young woman with long white hair stood by the truck, guarding the cargo, her face hidden away by a gold and black mask that looked eerily familiar.
"Who's she?" Dick asked as they parked the car.
X silenced the engine and opened the door. "Why don't you come find out, Chuckles?"
A crude look took over Dick's face and he exited the vehicle. Jason dismounted his bike and removed his signature red helmet. He spotted the girl, and shot her a smirk, lighting a cigarette as he causally approached her.
"You're late, Red," she said in a low husky voice, walking to meet him half way.
"Hey, I'm a busy guy, I got a lot of shit to do," Jason replied in a calm, but crass tone.
He flicked the ash off his cigarette and placed it back to his lips where it hung leisurely for a moment.
"Yeah well my time matters too, y'know?" she replied, looking up at him and snatched the cigarette from his mouth. "I don't like waiting on you." She took the foul coffin nail to her lips and inhaled the fine smoke, blowing it back in his face, almost playfully. "Got it?"
"I'll make it up to you, I always do," Jason said, wearing a sly grin as he spoke.
A smoky smile stretched across the girl's face, the light scent of cigarette ash on her breath. "Well feel free to tell that to my dad, sparky. I'm sure he'd love to hear all about it."
Jason laughed as Dick watched from the side of the SUV, a scrutinizing cast on his brow.
"I'll tell your dad anything you want if it makes you happy, princess."
"Well isn't that sweet," she cued patronizingly, walking passed him, taking the cigarette with her.
Jason turned and took her by the arm, bringing her to an abrupt halt. She looked back at him with inquiry just at her lips, but said nothing.
"Hey, we good?" Jason asked, the sound of vulnerability actually present in his words.
"Yeah," she replied softy, though Dick wasn't really sure why, "for now." She smiled smugly and turned to face the rest of the lot, immediately noticing Dick. "Who's the new kid?"
Jason stepped beside her, taking the cigarette from her hand and watched Dick glance away. "A friend, he's helping me out since I'm short on man power. Your dad wouldn't know anything about that, would he?" He took a drag and handed it back to her, not missing a beat.
"Not that I know of, but I'll look into it—you trust this kid?"
"Would he be here if I didn't?"
"I'd prefer not to answer that." She turned and began to walk away. "Your men up to date with the run?"
"Yeah."
"Ok, let's move."
"Will do, just give me sec, 'kay darl'n?"
Dick couldn't help but grimace at that statement and came to an odd conclusion.
Jason approached him and the others and asked X, Mutt and Duala to give them a minute. The three nodded and stepped away, leaving the bothers to talk.
"You good with this?" Jason asked with a nod.
"Yeah," Dick reassured and looked over at the white-haired girl now propped upon her motorcycle. "What's the deal with her?"
Jason glanced back and nodded at her, who coyly smiled back at the sight. "That's Rose, on the street she goes by Ravager."
"She seems interesting."
"Oh you don't even wanna know, Grayson."
"You're totally sleeping with her, aren't you?"
Jason turned his head abruptly as though caught off guard by the statement. "Uh… I don't kiss tell," he replied trying to shrug off the subject.
Dick looked at him crudely, a look Jason recognized from when he was a boy. Dick knew he was full of shit.
"Is it really that obvious?" Jason finally queried.
"Dude, I've seen politicians with more subtlety," Dick replied, arms crossed, "the cigarette's a nice touch by the way, totally gives it away."
"Shit," Jason scoffed. "Maybe I should be less candid."
"Maybe just a skosh. So who's her dad?" Dick finally asked, curious about that portion of the conversation.
Jason rolled his eyes, knowing the look that would soon devour Dick's face at the drop of a name. "Let's just say, you wouldn't approve."
8888
Schizo waited by the bar, keeping watch for anything that seemed odd. He looked over to the table where Hogan and Wintergreen still sat, waiting for Enigma to return with the official count. He could hear the door open behind him and began to turn his attention to the entrance.
"Oh shit!" someone yelled as Schizo was now staring down the barrel of a loaded gun.
He reached for his weapon, but the gun fired, the bullet hitting him like fire piercing his shoulder. He fell to the floor as pain crippled him with an abrupt weight, chaos breaking loose around him.
Both Hogan and Wintergreen pulled out their weapons and began to fire as did the bartender, who produced a double-barreled shotgun. The husky man cocked the gun and fired, hitting one of the gunmen in the chest. The other gunman growled in anger and shot twice at the bartender, who quickly ducked behind the bar.
The gunman looked down to find Schizo held up under a stool, holding his bleeding shoulder in pain. The shooter pointed his gun, and readied himself to fire on the young man as though he were putting a dying animal out of its misery. Just as he was about to fire, Enigma flew from around the corner and put two bullets right through the shooters head before he could even fire once at her.
He fell to the floor with a heavy thud, both Hogan and Wintergreen, pulling themselves from the shambles of the floor.
"Pretty and deadly, I think I'm in love," Wintergreen purred through his graveled voice and shaken nerves.
The unruffled red-head turned to him unamused. "Don't fall too hard or I'll have to put you down too." She turned to Hogan, but stopped as he saw Schizo stumble out from under the bar. "Shit."
The bartender finally popped up and the few bar goers slowly came out of hiding.
"I'm fine," Schizo huffed, blood spilling from him like ripe fruit.
"Hogan, we have to get him out of here, now!"
The bartender quickly retrieved a small first aid kit and brought it around the bar. "You all need to get gone, the cops will be here any second."
"Hogan!"
The older man mutter a few curse words and took out his old pre-pay, dialing it within moments. "Hey, X. We've just been hit at Finnegan's—Schizo's shot, it's bad. We have to—X? X what's happening? X!?"
Enigma and Wintergreen both looked at the old man with allure and alarm.
"What?" Enigma finally asked.
"I think we're under attack?"
8888
Raven looked back at Jinx a little dumbfounded though it came from a more cynical place. Deep down, she knew Jinx could see right through her facade, but to hear her speak it, was a little unnerving.
"So you do know who I am."
Jinx cracked a coy smile and turned to the bar to catch Clancy's attention. "Hey Clanc, can we please get a couple of drinks? And make it something light, it's gonna be a long night."
Clancy nodded with a light smile. "Two Whiskies in a Bog com'n right up, love."
Jinx uttered a thank you and turned her attention back to Raven, who seemed a little puzzled.
"Are you threatened by that?" Raven asked.
"Not at all," Jinx giggled, "if I was, then we'd be fighting, not sharing a drink." Jinx paused as Clancy placed down two small glasses filled with a translucent red liquid, saying nothing. Jinx took a quick sip of the concoction and gave Clancy an approving nod. "But tell me something," she asked placing down her drink, "what's a girl like you, doing in a city like Gotham?" she took another sip and looked back at Raven contentiously. "Running with wolves and hoods isn't exactly your scene. I mean, I know you have a bit of a reputation for being a bad bitch, but… despite what the Justice League might think, you and I know—you're not really that bad."
Raven looked down at her drink, trying to think of what to say, unsure how much of the truth she could thrust Jinx with. But she was right, Raven really wasn't that bad.
"I'm here because of Dick."
Jinx laughed and sipped her drink again. "No shit. It's clear the way you pine over Bird Boy that you'd follow him out of hell if you had to." She giggled a moment, realizing the birds had actually lived that Greek tragedy. She'd always felt the two were somehow hopelessly bound to each other, through thick and thin, only they didn't know it. "But at the same time, you and I both know you're not just some stupid girl blindly following a man—no questions asked. No, for you, there would have to be something more, there'd have to be a reason to believe in whatever he's doing."
"Then you should know I can't tell you that."
Jinx placed her drink down and leaned forward, taking a piece of Raven's long onyx hair in her fingers. "Listen Rae, I really don't care. But whatever you two are doing, it better not fall back on this team or anyone close to it."
Raven wanted to look away from the young witch, but knew if she did, she would take it as a sign of weakness. And even worse—disrespect.
"What happens if it does?"
Jinx twirled the lock of black hair, binding her fingers within her shadowy roots and pulled it without a second thought. "Anything happens to Jason, or anyone for that matter, I will end you and your little boyfriend too, got it?"
"Got it," Raven said trying hold back her discomfort when Jinx finally released her, "and he's not my boyfriend."
Jinx laughed and picked up her glass. "Whatever you and Bird Boy do on your own time is your business. I'm just here to make sure that business doesn't land on this team."
"Funny, I seem to remember having a similar conversation with you," Raven added, placing her finger on the rim of the glass.
"Yeah, you did. I was actually kinda afraid of you back then."
"But what, now you have the upper hand?"
"No, sweetheart," Jinx coed, "you're just on my side of the tracks now, and that means you need me for this to work."
Just as the words left Jinx's mouth, Enigma came running in from the back, distress on her face. The two women stood as Jinx muttered a faint curse and asked what was wrong.
Enigma gasped for breath as tears ran down her face, smearing her makeup. "Schiz—Schizo's been shot—it's bad!"
"How bad?" Jinx snapped, moving toward the stock area of the bar. "Oh shit." She scoffed, taking in the scene of her teammate bleeding on the floor and fighting for his life. She turned and shouted for Clancy and Trilby, who were already scurrying over. "Hogan, Eddie! Get him upstairs, Enigma get the med bag, Clancy, Trilby—you help prepare the room," Jinx ordered without missing a beat and turned to Raven. "You're a healer, right?"
Raven hesitated a second, trying to find the right words.
"Right?" Jinx hissed.
"Y—yes."
"Good," she replied, her brow creased, "cause you're up, and if you want this to work, then he better not die."
8888
The trees went by like ghosts lost within years, as the small caravan charged down the road. Jason led the pack on his Harley, its fierce growl fading into the clear night. The silver-haired Ravager rode at his side, beneath the deep blue painting of night. Behind them was the 18-wheeler, carrying the cargo which they were entrusted with, followed only by the black Ford Expedition.
"You look bored," Red X said, peering over from the driver's seat.
Dick glanced from the road and shook off the stale expression. "Well I was expecting something a little more painstaking."
The thief laughed, a cocky smirk just under his mask. "Yeah protection runs are usually like this, sorry it's not exciting enough for you."
Dick smiled and shrugged. "It's alright, I've had enough excitement over these last few days. I'll take boring."
"Hey man, can I ask you a question?" Mutt mumbled from the back seat.
Dick looked back at him a little shocked by his calm tone. "Sure, I guess?"
Mutt glanced at X and knew the man was giving him a stern look beneath that grim mask, but persisted, "Where'd you learn to fight like that?"
Dick let a little relief fill his face as the question wasn't combative. "I learned from an old friend, mostly. Picked up a thing or two from a few others along the way. Why you wanna know?"
Mutt shrugged and peered away from the hero, who sat in the passenger seat. "Well, JT said you're his brother, and JT's a street kid. It's clear by the way you fight you're no street kid."
Dick looked over at X not really sure what to say, so he just went with the truth (or as much truth as he could spare). "Jason wasn't always a street kid, there was a time when he had people who cared about him—still do."
"Then why he act like no one gives a shit?"
"Cause Jason was a street kid, and once the world's chewed you up like that, it's hard to see the good in it. You're always afraid you'll end up alone—you always feel alone."
"You sound like you know, man," Mutt said as his brown eyes softened on his peculiar young face.
Dick noticed X looked over at him again, and could feel that he too, could identify with his words. But before Dick could answer, X's burner rang and he quickly answered it.
"Hey…" A few moments went by as Dick and Mutt remained quiet, Dick beginning to look out the window. "Shit—are we whole?...Is he okay?"
Dick could tell by his panicked tone, that the one sided conversation was headed in an ominous direction. But before he could turn his attention to the concerns X voiced, he noticed something in the rear view mirror. Headlights beginning to grow closer to them, picking up speed by the second. Dick turned his head, signaling Mutt to check behind him as well. X too, peered through the rearview as he listened to Hogan's harrowing tale, but as soon as all three took their eyes off the road ahead of them, Dick noticed something dart out in front of the car.
"X!"
X looked forward, and to his alarm, found a young woman trying frantically to flag them down in the road. "Shit!"
The thief quickly slammed on the brakes, turning the wheel hard to avoid hitting the girl, white in the headlight. The vehicle veered to the right, the screech of the tires, crying as they just missed the young woman.
"Fuck," X scoffed catching his breath. He looked back to see that Mutt had hit his head on the window and was nodding out of conciseness. "Shit! Dick I need you to go check on the girl, bring the gun Jason gave you—I have a bad feeling."
By now the girl was on her knees, crying, clearly in shock.
Dick nodded as X began looking for his pre-pay which had fallen to the floor during the near collision.
Dick took the ghost gun Jason had given him out of the glove box and pushed it in the back of his waist-band. He pulled up his hood, trying to keep his face hidden, though he wondered if the sight of him in all black would alarm the young woman.
He opened the door and stepped out, calling out to the girl, "Hey, you okay?"
She didn't say anything, just kept sobbing with her head draped pitifully to the ground, her arms like pillars, moments away from crumbling.
Dick began to approach her and looked back at X, who was now digging around for Mutt's burner. Dick finally reached the young woman, her long, dark hair keeping her ghostly face covered. But before he could kneel down to comfort her, or ask her what she was doing out on that stretch of nowhere, he heard the rough rev of multiple motorcycle engines and the loud sound of a collision just behind him.
He turned to find that Expedition had been rear ended with both Mutt and X inside while two short bikes sped by, firing a few rounds in his direction, he leapt backward and covered the girl, trying to shield her from the spray of bullets as they sped by. The two fell to the pavement, the flying metal miraculously missing them. Dick looked up to see the short bikes slip away into the darkness, obviously going after Jason and the shipment. However, just as Dick tried to pull himself up, he felt something press against his chest.
"Shit."
"Get up," the girl demanded as he looked down to find her face cold and stone-like, "I said get up, pretty boy!" she growled again, pushing the gun deeper into his chest.
"Okay, no need to get all trigger happy, sweetheart," Dick said a little sarcastically, "I'm getting up."
"Well get up faster, and put your hands where I can see them," she demanded through her teeth, the gun still on him, "and DON'T call me sweetheart. Got it?"
"Yeah, got it," Dick said in a numb tone.
"Turn around, and put your hands behind your head."
"Anything you say, princess," Dick replied, turning away from her, more sarcasm rolling off his tongue.
"I said don't call me that!"
"You said not to call you sweetheart, you didn't say princess was off the table. You're gonna have to be more specific," Dick shrugged, patronizing the girl, hoping this trigger could be used to rouse her weak points.
"Shut up! Or I'm gonna blow your fucking head off!"
Dick smirked a bit wickedly, and just said the first dirty thing at the tip of his tongue, "What's that about blowing me?"
He knew he was going to hell for that one, but felt due to his current situation, that it was warranted. He could also see that this show of marginalized sexism was clearly a thorn digging into the girl's side, so—why not be a total dick?
He could practically hear the young gunman (woman) growling at him, her disdain for him biting at the trigger, but she just couldn't quite bring herself to pull it. But still, with the gun to his head, Dick helplessly watching as two large men with automatic hand guns, hurried their way to the SUV to retrieve X and Mutt at gun point. The woman, however, had finally taken the bait Dick had set out for her and pulled the trigger of his gun.
*Snap
"What?" she questioned, realizing the gun was empty.
And before she could react, Dick grabbed her wrist with one hand, and, with his other, gripped the back of her head and slammed it onto the hood of the Expedition.
"Night, princess," he muttered (much like a dick) and quickly pulled a full clip out of his coat, slipping it into the mock 45 with such speed, the two men couldn't even set eyes on him.
"Don't move shitheads," Dick demanded, "This gun wasn't loaded a second ago, but I promise you, it is very loaded now."
The two paused a moment a little scared after witnessing how fast this young man's reflexes were, and just as they were about to act, they heard a mechanical voice.
"You better listen to him, assholes," X said, holding a gun to one of tallest man's head.
"Yeah man," Mutt added, now armed with an M16 and leaning out the back window.
Dick smiled smugly, like he'd just won some meaningless prize. "Drop the guns boys, your little stunt's over."
8888
Up ahead, Jason and Duala were holding off their own battle as the short bikes had caught up them. Jason and Rose fired a few rounds at both bikes as they began to gain on them, dodging the bullets with plenty of ease. Rose noticed one of the bikes falling back a bit, and that it held a passenger aboard.
"Shit," she scoffed to herself, and tried to signal Jason, who was occupied with the bike coming up behind him.
Meanwhile, Duela was ready to guard the driver with her life while also keeping an eye on both Rose and Jason. Rose signaled for her to keep Jason covered as she pulled back, knowing she'd have to do some serious damage control. Jason noticed her falling behind, but knew she probably had a good reason for doing so. However, before he knew it, the short bike was at his side.
The rider held out his gun to fire at him, but Jason quickly slammed on his brakes coming to a near halt, leaving the around to fly into nothing. The gunman turned to find Jason firing more rounds at him when his gun jammed.
"Oh that's a bitch," Jason huffed, turning the throttle and taking off to avoid the hit he was about to take.
The other short bike was now out of view behind the 18-wheeler, so close, it was practically kissing the tail-gate. The passenger stood up and took a moment to balance before shooting a hook-line into the back of the truck and riding the line so that they were now hanging off the trailer. The rider climbed up the sturdy cable, pulling their way to the top. Once there, this unwanted guest looked around and took out a device, then started programing it. That is, until they heard a voice call from over their shoulder.
"Hey shithead, I don't do hitchhikers." Rose said, standing on the trailer, her helmet off, gripped it firmly in her hand.
The Rider turned, saying nothing and fired, just as Rose pulled out a menacing sword from the sheath on her back. With sharp precision, she guided the weapon, as though it were only an extension of her body, and deflected the bullets with cat-like reflexes. Using these sleek reflexes, Rose hurled her helmet at the mysterious rider, knocking the gun from her hand and charged her. The two collided, the rider catching the blade of the sword in her hand, and before Rose's very eyes, the blade turned to water from the very touch.
"Oh fuck?" Rose scoffed with humility, but jammed her lonely hilt into the rider's ribs. "Luckily, I can still cut you in half with my bear hands—Shimmer."
The woman chuckled and pulled off her helmet, revealing her shit eating grin. "Not before I cut you first—bitch."
The loathing between them caught fire and the two began their assault in hand to hand combat. All while Jason and Duela fought to keep the other short bike at bay.
Duela fired a few rounds at the rider's back tire, but couldn't quite catch the edge of the rubber. By now, both Jason and the unknown assailant had resorted to using knives, trying to cut each other to bits as they'd both run out of bullets. Jason caught a slice on his shoulder as he tried to bury his blade into the bike's rear tire. However, this crude form of hand to hand was getting Jason nowhere, and if he was going to get out of this assault alive, then he'd have to channel his inner Bruce.
An idea, potentially fruitful, bloomed in Jason's mind. Determined, he hit the throttle hard, taking off in front of the short bike. He could hear the motor of the bike rev for more acceleration, and he smiled beneath his helmet. Duela looked on as her leader took off on his Harley, wondering why he was trying to out run the faster bike, but realized, this, wasn't about speed.
The two bikes speed around the corner, the short bike now neck even with him. Jason took this corner exceptionally tight, forcing him to slow down to little more than a halt. The rider turned to look back at him a moment, confused as to why he'd stopped, but before he could slow down.
*Crash.
The bike slammed into a colossal pothole gauged into the road, causing the rider to lose control over the motorcycle, the force of the bike propelling it forward. The rider and bike came crashing down to the road below, his body grinding into the coarse pavement.
"Oh, that's gotta hurt," Jason grimaced, wincing at the sight of the accident.
He pulled himself from his momentary stupor, and turned his Harley around, punching it in hopes of making it back to aid Rose and Duela. However, unbeknownst to him, Rose had everything under control. Or at least as under control as this situation could warrant.
Rose took a nice hit to the jaw and nearly took another, but caught Shimmer's fist and plunged her knee into her gut, then hit her in the back of the neck. Shimmer fell to the steel below her, the water under her hands still somewhat there. She took a deep breath and concentrated, managing to conjure enough strength to turn the substance into glass. She took her newly formed shard in her gloved hand and jammed its sharp edge into Rose's thigh. The girl cried out, letting Shimmer's arm go and fell back.
Shimmer stood up, getting ready to bring the fires of hell upon her young advisory. Rose had to act quick reached for a small knife she kept at her side. But apparently, Rose wouldn't need to apply that much effort.
The trucked turned the corner, the driver and Duela taking in the sight of the motor cycle accident before them. The driver slammed on the brakes, throwing off Shimmer's balance, giving Rose enough time to plunge the small knife into her side. The meta-human fell from the truck and crashed to the pavement, her body rolling away lifeless and limp as her flesh was torn up by the road.
The truck came to a jolted and stressful stop, just missing the wreck in the other lane. Jason quickly ran to the cab, but noticed that Rose was nowhere to be found, and feared the worse.
"Duela where's Rose!?"
"Up here!" Rose called in an exhausted voice.
Jason could see her peaking up from the top of the trailer and sprinted over to meet her, "Shit, I thought—"
"Oh please. It's gonna take a lot more than a bitch like Shimmer to take me out," Rose sighed, brushing off the scuffle as if it were nothing.
Jason smiled at the crass nature of her statement and aided her as she climbed off the trailer. "Jesus Christ," he muttered, "you're bleeding."
"Yeah, it comes with the territory. I'll be fine though. Stupid bitch couldn't hit an artery if it were an unattended 711."
"I think she's gonna live, Boss," Duela sang as Jason's phone rang.
"Shit, Grayson where are you three?"
"We got hit. I'm assuming you did too?" Dick replied looking down at the two wrangled gunman and unconscious woman.
"Yeah, you guys whole?"
Dick looked back at X and Mutt as they finished wrapping duct tape around the second man's extremities.
"Mostly, I think Mutt may have lost a few brain cells, but I have a feeling he won't miss them."
"That's probably true," Jason laughed lightly. "Wait there, I'll be there in a minute—figure this shit out."
"Got it." Dick closed the phone and turned to relay the message.
"Red Hood's on his way."
"Damn, Chuckles. You really K. this bitch," X said, getting ready to bind her limbs tighter. "And here I thought you didn't hit girls."
"Yeah well when the girl is about to pump a round of lead into my skull, I'm not so chivalrous."
X laughed, "Same here. Now, help me get her taped up—wow that sounded bad, didn't it?"
"A little," Dick droned, hearing the sound of a motorcycle engine coming from around the corner.
"Wow JT's already here," Mutt mused and looked out to the road.
Dick looked over and noticed the shape of the headlight and said with urgency, "That's not the sound of a Harley."
X's peered up at him and with worry in his voice said, "Shit, it's not."
Gunfire once again filled the night, silencing the crickets, the second short bike barreling full speed down the road.
"Get down," X ordered as the three scurried behind the car for cover.
X and Mutt began shooting at the gunman, Dick still too hesitant to pull the leery trigger. The gunman however, was not so modest, and shot one of the bound men.
"Shit! He's not here of us, he's here to make sure no one rats," Dick observed. "We have to stop him!"
X fired off a few rounds, watching the rider disappear into the wood line for cover, "He's not leaving till he's dead!"
The gunfire ceased a moment, the three looking to each other, waiting for X's lead, when they heard Jason's bike roaring off in the distance.
Dick shot up trying to warn Jason of the danger, but gunfire still ranged free. Jason stopped and began firing his own, now replenished, weapon in the direction of the wood-line. Meanwhile Dick took the opportunity to try and retrieve the second bound gunman before he could be picked off himself. As the hero was doing so, he heard Jason grunt as he caught the edge of a bullet in his upper arm.
"Jason!" Dick called and turned from his target.
Jason looked over at Dick when he heard more gunfire, however this came from directly behind the oblivious hero, approximately five shots. Dick grunted in agony as each round found its way to his back, leaving him to fall to the ground in writhing pain.
"Shit!" Jason cried.
In shock he discovered where the fire had come from and saw her, the girl Dick had previously knocked unconscious. She took off for the tree like a bat out of hell, shooting the last gunman as she hustled away, disappearing into the woods.
Both Jason and X ran for Dick, who still lay on the ground unmoved for a moment, Jason shooting into the tree line as X pulled Dick behind the SUV.
"Jesus Christ, Chuckles—you okay?"
"Dick let out a rough groan and nodded. "Yeah—I'm good… sorta." He tried straightening his back as Jason met them behind the Expedition. "The vest took most of it." Dick finally said catching his breath. "Still fucking hurts though."
"Jesus, Grayson." Jason sighed looking down at him.
The hum of the short bike revved up once more and the bike shot out from the dirt path, the girl now on the back of it. Jason and X fired at the two, but couldn't get a clear enough shot and the two flew quickly down the road.
"Should we go after them?" Mutt asked, practically ready to run down the lamp-less road.
Jason took off his helmet and ran his fingers through thick black hair. "No, we're not gonna catch them. Plus, we got four dead bodies currently acting as speed bumps."
"We should probably take care of that." X added, carelessly with a nod.
"Four?" Dick huffed, pulling himself up straight, his face wincing from the pain.
"You're lucky it wasn't five, Grayson," Jason spat, and lit a cigarette. "So what the hell happened?"
X pulled off his mask and ran his weary hand down face, letting his fingers contour his mouth with a long look. "I got a call from Hogan—they got ambushed; Schizo was hurt—bad."
Jason's face sunk with shock. "He gonna be okay?"
"I don't know man. I didn't get that far. We got hit halfway through the call."
"Shit!" Jason pulled out his phone, dialing a number off the top of his head.
The four men sat beneath the heavy cover of night, bleeding, tired, and vulnerable, something none of them were fond of showing. Dick wasn't quite sure what to feel, his heart caught somewhere between regret and validity. He pondered about how something so simple could cause the death of so many people, and that he (of all people) would take part in it. Still, there was a part of him that justified the ordeal as something of a necessary evil, and that without it, he couldn't achieve the prerogative he'd set out to. He just hoped when he achieved it, that he could see it truly as necessary.
8888
Jinx was scrambling to gather all the medical supplies the bar had on hand, grabbing everything from gloves to pain killers. With haste, she brought the supplies up to the room where Schizo lay bleeding and set the bag next to Raven. She took a pair of gloves in her hands and pulled them on, telling Jinx to do the same. Just as this was happening, Clancy entered the room with more medical supplies and a bottle of whisky.
"These are for you," she said colorfully, "and this is for you, darl'n—drink up," Clancy added, putting the bottle to Schizo's lips, making him take a generous swig. Once he was done, the Irish girl took the bottle from the skinhead and held it out to Raven, who was filling a syringe with a local anesthetic. "You need a swig too, sweetheart?"
"I'm good," Raven said dryly, "but feel free to save me a few shots for later."
"Why? What happens later?" Schizo asked, taking the bottle from Clancy and practically poured it down his throat."
"Well, I'm gonna need to get drunk later—that's what's gonna happen." Raven leaned over and pointed the syringe near the bullet wound and noticed the skinhead get squeamish. "What's wrong?"
The skinhead looked up at her and grimaced, "I just really hate needles."
Raven laughed and looked at Jinx, who was also finding it hard to keep down her giggles.
"Seriously? You just got shot and there's a 40% chance you're gonna die tonight, but you're ready to piss yourself over a little needle?"
"Hey it's a real thing!" the skinhead defended, ego bruised.
"I'm sure it is."
Raven plunged the syringe into Schizo's wounded flesh, a small yelp escaping his throat. Just as this was taking place, a small beeping could be heard. Jinx reached into her pocket and pulled out a Hello Kitty pre-pay and flipped it open.
"Hey."
"Hey Jinx, what's the status?"
"Well, Schizo is more afraid of needles then he is of dying," Jinx replied, eyes rolling.
Jason smiled weakly at her tone. "Sounds like him… he gonna make it?"
She glanced back at the dark sorceress who peered up slightly. "Raven's on it, he'll be fine. What's the damage on your end?"
"We're whole," Jason grimaced, looking back at everyone, "but we have some collateral damage to take care of."
"Does that collateral damage involve corps disposal?"
"Yeah… and we're gonna need a mechanic."
"I'll call Wally," Jinx sighed, she hated bringing him into these matters.
"That would be great, tell him we need a tow. Oh—and Jinx?" Jason added before he hung up. "Tell Raven I said thanks."
"I will, keep me posted."
"Okay, you do the same."
She closed the phone and slipped it back in her pocket. Raven peered in her direction, a quizzical look on her face. Jinx caught the slight look of alarm and quickly tried to place it to bed.
"He's fine, Raven." Jinx pursed her lips and pulled a second phone, placing it to her ear.
It rang twice, then a cheery voice picked up. "Hey babe, how's it shaking?"
Jinx couldn't help but smile at the tone, his quirky words somehow appealing to her. "It's um… interesting," she sighed, trying to keep her voice calm. "I kinda need a favor."
"If it involves seeing you naked, I'm in!"
She laughed and shook her tired head. "Not that kinda of favor, Wally."
"Then what kind we talking?"
Jinx glanced back at Raven and turned toward the doorway to exit. "The kind I can't tell you a lot about, but I need you regardless." She closed the door behind her and slid down the wall her legs nearly too heavy to carry her.
"So the kind that involves work?"
"Yeah."
"I thought we didn't talk about work," Wally mused from his end.
Jinx glanced down, letting her finger's wrap themselves in the small tear of her fishnets. "I know, but it's really important. Plus you get to see your old buddy, Nightwing, if it's any consolation."
"What does Dick have to do with this? Are you cheating on me with another cape," Wally Joked grabbing his coat.
"It's a long story, but he and your old girlfriend are in town."
"Girlfriend?" Wally paused as he reached the hallway outside their apartment.
"Raven." Jinx rolled her eyes as the name slipped off her tongue with playful disdain.
"Oh Raven!" Wally chuckled fondly. "She was never my girlfriend, we just—"
"Yeah, Wally—I know. You don't have to mention it, again."
"Hey, you're the one hanging around frigg'n Nightwing. If anyone should be shitting their pants, it's me."
"Oh please, I want none of that train wreck, plus devastatingly attractive men with daddy issues aren't really my thing."
"No, you like goofy gingers with Attention Deficit Disorder."
"What can I say, I'm a girl with refined taste."
They two shared a small chuckle, forgetting the ambiguity at hand.
"So what's this favor you need," Wally asked pulling himself into the cab of his beat up Jeep Comanche.
Jinx glanced up from her stockings, her fingers becoming entwined. "Soooo the guys were doing a job and they umm… hit a deer… they need a tow."
"A deer—got it."
"And Wally…"
"Yeah Babe?"
"I'm really sorry."
Wally looked down a moment and his tone soften. "It's Okay Jinx… I know this isn't forever."
She paused a minute, saying nothing.
"Well," Wally said, finally filling the void, "I'm gonna go pick up the trailer, where am I supposed to go pick the guys up?"
"They're on 513 going toward Blüdhaven, I'll let him know you're on your way."
"Okay Babe, love you."
"I love you too."
She hung up the phone and sat on the floor, a deep breath falling from her thin lips. She pulled her fingers under her eyes, smearing her running eyeliner, leaving her with a look that reminded one of a pretty raccoon. She pulled herself to her feet once again, it was just another day in her line of work and she was no stranger to dire situations, and this one, was no different—or was it?